Chapter 68
Elizabeth's POV
I let out a cold laugh before speaking, "I heard what you said, so what exactly do you mean?"
Treat me like before? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard.
"I know you definitely can't let go of your feelings for me after all these years. Just come back to me obediently, and the position of my fiancée is still yours."
Hearing this, I almost blurted out, "You're such a jerk, does Bianca know?"
My words clearly hit a nerve. Aiden fell silent for a few seconds, then said, "I'll explain to Bianca. After all, my love life has really affected the Smith Group. Come back and help me explain together."
Hearing this, I became even more convinced that something was wrong with Aiden's brain.
His reason for wanting me back was actually to have me help restore the Smith Group's reputation?
Absolutely ridiculous.
"Listen, I'm calling you because there's something I want you to know, something I think you absolutely need to know."
I lowered my voice, my tone becoming lighter, making Aiden lower his guard while also piquing his curiosity.
He asked with great interest, "What big thing? Elizabeth, do you still love me in your heart?"
The topic had circled back to what I least wanted to discuss. I simply didn't answer.
How much did Aiden really know about Bianca? With his status, couldn't he see that her illness was all fake?
"I'm hanging up. Wait for my call." I hung up immediately after speaking, not giving him any chance to respond.
Right away, I dialed Bianca's number.
The phone rang for quite a while before she answered.
Bianca seemed to sense it was me and was so cautious at first that she didn't speak.
"Bianca, how long are you going to keep pretending?" I couldn't help but smile.
Sure enough, Bianca was provoked by the words in my statement and quickly said, "What are you talking about? What pretending?"
I said with a smile, "Don't you know what you're pretending? Now that Aiden and I have separated, are you still going to keep pretending?"
She faked illness to gain Aiden's sympathy and took the opportunity to push me out. Hadn't she already accomplished all that?
Since she'd already done it, why keep up the act?
Wasn't she afraid that when enough time passed, and she still hadn't died, Aiden would become suspicious?
Bianca was still testing, thinking I was bluffing, and said quietly, "What do you mean? I don't understand at all."
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand. I'm calling to tell you that I'm planning to meet with Aiden and discuss why you haven't died yet after all this time."
My words were more direct now, and the breathing on the other end of the phone immediately became unstable. Her voice urgent, she shouted, "You wouldn't dare!"
After half a minute, she said again, "Do you know something? Elizabeth, tell me clearly!"
Hearing this, I could almost imagine her frantic expression. "Do you think it's better if I tell him, or if you confess yourself?"
From the beginning, Aiden's desperate desire for my life had its roots in Bianca.
That fool Aiden thought only my life could save Bianca. In other words, if I wanted to eliminate the danger to my life...
The most direct way was to make Aiden realize he had no reason to take someone's life for nothing.
Originally, I wanted to expose this lie when Aiden and Bianca's relationship was even deeper, to make Aiden suffer more.
But now, I couldn't wait any longer.
"Elizabeth! Are you threatening me? I'm warning you, what you're saying doesn't threaten me at all! If you've got the guts, just you wait!"
"That's not for you to decide, is it? Besides, Aiden has always been happy to meet with me. I'll tell you directly—if nothing unexpected happens, I'll arrange to meet him this evening."
It would be best if everyone came together. That way, explaining the situation directly would be more exciting.
Since Bianca was willing to play this role to be with Aiden, I would make sure they didn't get their wish.
Even this fake relationship—Aiden shouldn't get to have it. I absolutely won't allow it!
Bianca, on the other end, seemed about to explode with anger, muttering something, and I just hung up, not giving her any chance to ask questions.
Clearly, Bianca wanted to know when I was meeting Aiden. She called back again, and I simply hung up.
After several more calls, it finally went quiet.
In the evening, I asked Alexander for two bodyguards to secretly follow me to ensure my safety, then decided to go to the appointment.
For safety's sake, I arranged the meeting place at a coffee shop and also sent a text message to Bianca.
When I arrived, I didn't expect Aiden to already be there.
He had ordered a whole table of desserts. Seeing me arrive, he said as if showing off, "I ordered them all for you. Don't be too touched."
Looking at the pile on the table, not one of them was something I particularly liked to eat. I wanted to laugh.
I sat across from him and pushed the desserts in front of me away without hiding my disdain, ordering myself a latte instead.
Aiden was clearly dissatisfied with my action, frowning but looking at me as if maintaining his dignity.
"You took the initiative to ask me here—have you thought it through?"
I picked up my coffee and deliberately looked toward the floor-to-ceiling window beside me, not seeing anyone who looked like Bianca.
I'd told her the time and place of the meeting. Why was there no sign of her?
I didn't answer Aiden's question but asked directly, "Aiden, when you first got engaged to me, were you after me as a person, or what I had?"
My face had almost no extra expression, looking serious and earnest.
Aiden clearly didn't expect this from me. After a moment of shock, he said, "Of course, I was after what you had. Back then, you were a young lady who matched my status, but now you..."
He gave me a contemptuous look and shook his head at me, as if very dissatisfied.
I couldn't help but laugh, then continued, "Aiden, I've asked to this point, and you're still not ready to tell the truth? What you were really after was the bone marrow in my body that could match Bianca's, right?"
In an instant, it was as if blood rushed to Aiden's face. His whole body froze, staring at me with panic and tension, as if I were the terrible monster.
He didn't speak, but his hand holding the coffee trembled.
Seeing his reaction, I actually laughed, "You did it, so what's there not to admit? Aiden, look at me carefully."
His gaze swept across my face, revealing intense shock—a look he'd never given me before, as if for the first time he was seeing me as an equal.
After a while, he slowly said, "Elizabeth, you've changed."
I gave him a charming smile, my delicate features showing a stunning beauty that one couldn't look away from, "Really? From where I'm standing, you've changed too."